Xiao Sheng spent the New Year in Songjiang Prefecture.

Originally, Songjiang Prefecture was just an insignificant seaside area in the Ming Empire, and was even despised because it was attacked by water bandits and Japanese pirates.

However, after the Ming Empire eliminated Japanese pirates and started maritime trade, the Songjiang Shipyard directly under the Huangxia Chamber of Commerce was completed, more than a dozen shipyards appeared in Songjiang Prefecture.

These shipyards produce commercial ships. They cooperate with the Huangxia Songjiang Shipyard to share some of the technology and share some of the benefits.

All ships use steam turbines.

The three major shipyards also manufacture commercial ships, but the smallest tonnage is 3,500 tons. This type of large ship is not cost-effective to use in offshore or rivers, and is specially used for ocean-going trade.

Ships for offshore trade development are left to other shipyards to build.

There were originally some shipyards along the southeast coast of the Ming Dynasty. Later, after rectification, there were about 70 shipyards legally operated.

Some of them are made of paddle boats and sailboats that have been swam in the river, while the rest are all licensed to the steamship.

The steam ships they built were between 1,000 to 2,000 tons, some of which were dedicated fishing boats, and some were dedicated passenger ships.

The first large ocean liner was built in July of the second year of Chongzhen and was completed in mid-December.

The ship is 88 meters long and has a displacement of 7,000 tons. It has 68 first-class cabins, 288 second-class cabins, 1,288 ordinary cabins, a total passenger capacity of 1,644 people, and a total crew of 194 people.

This passenger ship has a complete power system, electric lights, phonographs, colored lights, and even a dedicated stage.

Equipped with bars, teahouses, entertainment rooms, infirmary facilities, it is a very complete passenger merchant ship.

It is the most luxurious cruise ship in the world.

Xiao Sheng came when the ship was launched. The passenger ship was originally going to be delivered to the Huangxia Chamber of Commerce for use, so he waited for Xiao Sheng to name it.

On the first day of the first day of the New Year, it had its own name "Pearl". The Pearl was very honored. The first mission was to send Xiao Sheng, the God of Wealth, back to the capital.

The distance from Songjiang Prefecture to Tianjin Port is not far, but it is not close, which is enough to test the performance of this passenger ship.

The ticket to board this passenger ship was also doubled due to Xiao Sheng's joining.

Despite this, they were all sold out.

There is no shortage of rich people in the south. A first-class ticket is only thirty taels of silver, while a general ticket is only two taels of silver and two silver dollars.

This is the normal price, and it has doubled now.

This is not expensive at all.

According to literature records, a juren named Ding Zhitang in Sichuan participated in the 15th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty in the late 19th century. He set out from his home in Sichuan on the 20th day of the lunar calendar in the 14th year of Guangxu and took a boat to Chongqing.

On the 23rd, he took another boat downstream and headed to Shanghai. After nearly a month, he finally arrived in Shanghai on the 20th day of the first lunar month.

In Shanghai, he spent 100 to 1800 yuan to buy tickets for the advanced foreign ships at that time, heading north along the coast, and arrived at Tianjin Port on the second day of the second month.

In other words, the price of an ordinary boat ticket at that time was as high as 10 taels and 8 cents of silver.

Now the shipping ticket price of the Ming Empire from Songjiang Prefecture to Tianjin Port is only two taels of silver, which is not as cheap as possible.

Boat tickets are actually just the basis of consumption.

The Pearl is a very sound cruise ship with many entertainment facilities and consumption projects.

You should know that tourists need to spend half a month on the cruise ship. During this period, the cruise ship will not provide free meals, but only provide hot water. Either you bring enough food for half a month at one time, or you need to consume here.

In terms of food, in addition to simple meals suitable for ordinary passengers, there are also high-end restaurants for customers with consumption capacity.

Not only food, but also some shopping stores, the largest consumption place should be the "Pearl Theater".

In fact, it is a big stage. Some artists were specially invited to come here. The theater will perform a performance every other day and you can enter and watch it at a fee.

Because during this first voyage, Xiao Sheng, a hot figure in the Ming Empire, was also very distinctive.

On the third day of the first lunar month, the "Pearl" successfully set sail in Songjiang Prefecture and sailed to the north.

On the same day, a performance was held, and the first show refreshed Xiao Sheng.

Sword dance!

There are actually sword dances in modern times, but that kind of sword dance feels like dancing and has nothing to do with swords.

The sharpness of the sword was not shown at all.

The sword dance I saw on this cruise ship is different. This woman has really practiced martial arts, her foundation is very solid, every movement and every static, and she has a very fascinating feeling.

Xiao Sheng felt very good because he was watching in the upper level seat and there was no one around, so he took out his phone and started recording.

What? How could there be mobile phones in ancient times?

As a modern person, Xiao Sheng has never left his mobile phone. Even when he was in court, the mobile phone had to be kept in his pocket.

Although there is no signal or network, it is impossible to have any messages, but it is very safe.

After shooting a complete video, Xiao Sheng played it again. Although the light was not very good, it still felt very good.

And, there is a sense of mystery.

I believe that taking it there for viewing by my family will definitely make them feel shocked.

Such an excellent culture should also be passed on. Xiao Sheng planned to put it on the Internet. Anyway, he was covered with a veil and the light was very poor, so he couldn't find anything at all.

After enjoying the sword dance, there is a symphony, all of which are ensembles of classical instruments. This is a new piece. "Spring River Flower Moon Night" produced by Chen Yuanyuan and the others, showing a gentle beauty unique to China in its atmosphere.

The strength of the Ming Empire in the second year of Chongzhen was not only reflected in the enhancement of military strength, but also an important part of it was the rapid development of the cultural and entertainment industry.

Xiao Sheng and Zhu Youjian have a common understanding, that is, "What the Ming Empire wants to build is a country with both hard and soft power standing at the top of the world." We have a cultural heritage of 5,000 years and an uninterrupted cultural heritage. This is a huge advantage and needs to be carried forward.

Therefore, after the reorganization of the Jiaofangsi, Zhu Youjian asked Concubine Tian and Concubine Yuan to devote themselves to the music and dance careers. The Concubine who was originally "worrying and waiting to die" in the harem suddenly had a huge responsibility.

With the help of modern music and dance system knowledge, they integrated the music and dance of the Ming Empire. It was not until November of the second year of Chongzhen that they completed the first phase of the task.

Today, the Jiaofangsi has become a legitimate official organization to manage the entertainment industry of the Ming Empire. It has initially established branches in the various governing departments in the north to effectively guarantee the interests of entertainment practitioners.

Entertainment practitioners include musicians, dancers, storytellers, etc. Most of them are women, so after the establishment of this department, it is considered a maintenance of women.

Queen Zhou Ying has been working hard for the liberation of women in the Ming Empire, because Xiao Sheng told them before that she should not be too anxious to do this, so what she is doing now is to support the rights of some women.

For example, the equal right to enroll and education is that although most people let their daughters go to school, they still want to be well-educated and marry a better family in the future. But at least, these girls have the opportunity to broaden their horizons, and then they have the hope of real equality and freedom.

Another thing is that it stipulates that both men and women in the Ming Empire have certain obligations to support their parents. If their children cannot serve by their side, they are required to give a minimum support fee every month.

This money is distributed by the government and then collected from children.

Because now it is basically "married daughter, splashed water", and daughters rarely serve their parents, so this means that after the daughter gets married, she still has to give her family a sum of money every month.

In this way, having a daughter can also be used to support her. As long as she has a few more, what is the money she gets every month?

Of course, the service of children is also what the elderly need, but at least doing so can reduce the lack of attention from some conservative people on their daughters.

Finally, the development of this entertainment industry.

The Ming Empire abolished brothels, but in fact, it did not completely ban flesh and blood transactions.

Brothels mainly sell art, while those who sell themselves are waiting for a price. The place where they really trade in flesh and flesh is called a brothel.

The so-called "secret prostitution" comes from this.

The cancellation of flesh and flesh transactions still needs to be done step by step, starting with the cancellation of the registration and management system for brothels and brothels.

The cancellation of brothels does not mean that the entertainment industry will disappear, but that it abolishes the slave relationships in it, makes everyone and the managers in it become employment relationships, and gives them the right to choose freely.

The brothel industry has a different name, called "Entertainment Club".

Although Xiao Sheng and Zhu Youjian also supported the development of entertainment, they imposed heavy taxes on this industry. If the monthly net profit reaches more than 100 taels, a tax of 20% will be levied. If the monthly net profit reaches more than 100 taels, a tax of 35% will be levied. If the monthly net profit reaches more than 500 taels, a tax of 50% will be levied!

The more you support it, the more you need to strictly control it. You cannot let all the stinky fish and rotten shrimps join it, otherwise it will poison the souls of the people of the Ming Dynasty. A life of luxury will cause a lot of crimes.

The entertainment industry also includes the gambling industry, the famous of which is the gambling industry in Cuju competition.

This is a gambling that the Ming Empire was allowed to participate in. Which one of them is betting on won the championship, runner-up, third place, or which side of the betting wins in a certain game, and what is the betting score.

Of course, the gambling industry is not limited to this, but most of it has been shut down, a small number of them are regulated and opened, and the profits are collected more taxes than clubs.

There is a saying that "the court does not allow the people to open brothels and casinos just to open them themselves." In fact, that's it.

This kind of industry that makes money quickly and easily breeds sinful things can only be intervened by the court when it cannot be completely and directly banned.

Nowadays, the Ming Empire actively promotes the progress of cultural and entertainment industry and strives to enrich the spiritual and civilized life of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

The important point is to carry out "cultural entertainment to the countryside" and organize a group of people to go to the countryside to provide spiritual pleasure for the people and those real national foundations.

The strength of this country is an indispensable part of them. If you make a contribution, you should enjoy this benefit.

Therefore, the Jiaofangsi formed a "art troupe", among which the "literary and artistic workers" are an officially recognized professional status and can receive wages paid by the court.

The basic salary is not much, but every performance has a performance fee. Even if you get an ordinary dancer in a month, it is quite good compared to ordinary people.

Of course, it is of course inferior to those big brothels.

Despite this, this "civil servant" job has attracted many practitioners to join.

Some of them really joined to support this organization.

There are many dog ​​slaughterers who are righteous.

Many "people with temperament" emerged in the brothel, which was the kind of "naive" who did everything to do for the ideals in their hearts.

After the art troupe went to the countryside, many people were moved to kneel down in the direction of the imperial city.
To be continued...